Glen Innes Severn mayor and chairman of the Glen Innes Cemetery Trust Colin Price said significant consideration had been made when drafting the Floral and Other Tributes Guide-lines for Lawn Cemeter-ies, currently on public exhibition and calling for submissions.
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Applying specifically to the lawn cemetery section of the grounds, Mr Price said the draft guidelines, which encourage grave caretakers to remove tributes and items from a grave’s lawn area, have been drafted to allow thorough maintenance and upkeep at the site.
“The cemetery has to be maintained,” Mr Price said, noting that the placement of floral and other tributes on the grassed area, and unauthorised planting of trees and shrubs, makes the site difficult to manage. Two vases and two other articles are allowed alongside the headstone, as long as they stay within the grave perimeter.
Mr Price said council has considered the matter carefully and has drafted the guidelines to allow residents to grieve, and those gravesites not currently complying will be notified and have five years to comply.
The guidelines focus on floral and other tributes and markers placed specifically on the lawn area of the cemetery. While flowers and items can be placed near graves and memorials, caretakers are requested to ensure that these tributes be placed appropriately in the allowable vases and containers at each gravesite and not on the lawn area.
New gravesites are exempt for six months, after which no items are to be placed ‘on the lawn area or outside the perimeters of the approved headstone’.
Coordinator of recreation and open spaces Graham Archibald echoed Mr Price’s comments, saying council guidelines reflect those of similar lawn cemeteries across the state.
Mr Archibald said he has made contact with those who have made public submissions in regard to the issue and said that, in some cases, a misinterpretation of the guidelines has caused some disquiet.
“We are not as strict as some other lawn cemeteries,” he said.
Mr Archibald said that in summary council is encouraging caretakers to contain tributes and other markers to within the approved headstone area with no fixtures or fittings to be placed on the lawn area.
Mr Archibald said, while he is not anticipating any changes to the draft at close of submissions on Thursday, a second report will be prepared and submitted to council for its review.
“It is a very sensitive subject,” he conceded.
